Austin Falls in Shootout, 3-2

AUSTIN, Minn. – For the second straight game, the Bruins were able to earn a crucial standings point but couldn’t take the victory, falling in the shootout 3-2 to the Minnesota Magicians. Dante Zapata netted both goals for the Bruins and Kyle McClellan turned aside 24 shots in the loss.

The Bruins got on the board first in the opening period when Zapata redirected Levi Stauber’s shot from the point past goaltender Ethan Haider for the 1-0 lead. It was almost exactly five minutes later when the Magicians leveled the game at 1-1.

After a scoreless second period, it was the Magicians who netted a shorthanded goal in the third period to take their first lead of the game. Not going down without a fight, the Bruins battled back when Zapata buried home a wrister for his second goal of the night, his second power-play goal of the night, to even the score at 2-2.

Overtime would come and go, and for the second straight game Austin was thrust into a shootout. The first three rounds went in favor of the goalies, but Cameron Buhl slipped one through the arm of Kyle McClellan in the fourth giving the Magicians the edge. The Bruins sent Dante Sheriff out to keep the shootout alive but he couldn’t solve Ethan Haider and the Magicians walked away with the victory 3-2.

The Bruins and Magicians will faceoff on Saturday in Richfield to wrap up the home and home series. Austin returns home to take on the other Minnesota team, the Wilderness, on Wednesday, October 24. It’s the annual Healthy Habits game with a special 11 AM puck drop. Get your tickets starting on Monday at all of the Bruins vendors including Hy-Vee, Games People Play, Holiday Inn, and Jim’s Marketplace.